Key-lock for autopianos.



Patented Oct.4, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. F. BAYER.

KEY LOCK FOR AUTOPIANOS.

LED 3.511,25, 1909.

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KEY LOCK FOR AUTOPIANOS. PPUGATION Hun JAN.25,1909.

971,657. Patented 001;.4, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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WILLIAM F. BAYER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE CHASE & BAKER COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

KEY-LOCK FOR AUTOPIANOS.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM F. BAYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Key-Locks for Autopianos, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the locking devices employed in so-called auto-pianos and similar automatic musical instruments for preventing actuation of the piano keys when the instrument is operated automatically, the improvement having' more particular reference to instruments of this kind which are provided with a pneumatic action and in which the locking device is controlled by a pneumatic in communication with the main exhaust channel of the wind chest, or other conduit or chamber connected with the main suction bellows.

The object of my invention is the provision of a simple locking device of this character which shall eifectually prevent vibration of the keys.

In the accompanying drawings consisting of 2 sheets: Figure l is a fragmentary front elevation of an auto-piano embodying the invention, the front panel of the case, the strings and the piano-action being omitted. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2 Q, Fig. l. Figs. 3 and 4f are transverse sections on the correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. l. Fig'. is a front elevation of the instrument illustrating a modified construction of the invention. Fig. G is a fragmentary transverse section on line GHG, Fig. 5.

Similar' letters of reference indicate co1'- responding parts throughout the several views.

A indicates the piano keys fulcrumed on the usual balance-rail c, and o, Figs. 3 and t, one of the abstracts of the piano-action' (not shown) which are manually operated by the piano-keys. In the construction shown in the drawings by way of example, the lower portion of the abstract is guided by a vertically-swinging link c pivoted at its rear end to a hanger Z which is secured to a fixed horizontal supporting rail D. Each of these links is pivoted to the corresponding abstract at el and projects forwardly beyond the same to form an extension* c2. Under this extension engages the rear arm of a vertically-swinging lever E which is actuated by the corresponding motor pneumatic Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 4, 1910. Serial No. 474,039.

F of the pneumatic action of the instrument. This pneumatic action and the wind chest G thereof may be of any suitable construction; they form no part of my invention and therefore require no detailed description further than to state that in the particular construction herein shown, g indicates one of the main exhaust channels arranged at the ends of the chest and communicating by a trunk g1 with the usual reservoiror chamber H of the main suction bellows.

In the construction shown, the front arm of the lever E is connected by a rod z' with the usual arm l of t-he upper movable board of the corresponding motor pneumatic, so that when the latter is collapsed it operates the companion abstract in a common manner.

J indicates a vertically-movable key-locking rail arranged underneath the front portions of the piano-keys and adapted to be raised in contact with their undersides, as shown in Fig. 4, for locking the keys against vibration when the instrument is operated automatically, or to be lowered to the position shown in Fig. 3 for unlocking the keys and permitting them to be depressed in the customary manner for playing the instrument manually. In the preferred construction shown in drawings, this locking rail extends throughout the series of keys and is secured to vertically-swinging rock arms /f fixed to a horizontal rock shaft K which is supported in bearings mounted upon the key table L. This rock shaft is provided with actuating arms K11, preferably arranged at its ends, and controlled by one or more pneumatics M which are in constant communicat-ion with the main suction bellows of the instrument, either directly or indirectly, so that as soon as said main bellows is started, the air is exhausted from the controlling pneumatics M and the key-lock or rail J is raised to its operative position, shown in Fig. Ll, while ,when the operation of said bellows ceases, the pneumatics IWI expand and withdraw said rail to its inoperative position, shown in Fig. 3. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. l to 4L, the controlling pneumatics are supported on the ends of the wind chest G and each communicates by a passage n with the adjacent exhaust channel of the chest, as shown in the right hand portion of Fig. l. The lower boards of said pneumatics are stationary, while their upper boards are movable and provided with projecting arms m with which the actuating arms cl are connected by rods 0.

It will be understood from the foregoing, that when the controlling pneumatics M are collapsed during the automatic playing of the instrument, the actuating armsl 761 are depressed, rocking the shaft K in the proper direction to elevate the locking rail, while when said pneumatics expand, the shaft is rocked in the opposite direction and the locking rail is withdrawn from the keys.

Obviously, the controlling pneumatics of the locking rail may be connected with any chamber, trunk or conduit communicating with the main pumps or suction bellows, so as to collapse and lock the keys the moment the instrument begins to play automatically and to remain in that position until it ceases playing.

The stroke of the locking rail is'preferably such that when moved to its operative position, it slightly raises the keys off the balance rail a, as shown in Fig. 4, the rear ends of the keys resting in that case upon the key table or the usual rail Z thereof. By this construction the keys are removed from their central fulcrum for the time being, so that any impact received by their customary capstan screws y) by the movements of the abstracts does not produce a rocking action or vibration of the piano-keys.

IVhile possessing the last-named advantage, this improved construction has the fur.- ther advantage of affording a favorable leverage between the locking rail and its controlling pneumatics which enables the latter to move the rail to its operative position under comparatively low as well as high air tensions in the wind chest and main suction bellows, thus insuring the locking of the keys under all conditions and automatic playing.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1-4, these controlling pneumatics are arranged above the keys, but they may be differently arranged without departing from the invention. For example, they may be located below the key-table, as shown at L1 in Figs. 5 and 6. In this case, the controlling pneumatics are inverted, their upper boards being fixed to a suitable support 0 while their lower boards are movable and connected to the inner arms of vertically-swinging levers al fulcrumed at a2. The outer arms of these levers are connected by rods p with the actuating arms k1 of the rock shaft J. r1`he operation of this modified construction is the same as that first described, the lock.- ing rail being raised through the medium of the levers nl when the controlling pneumatics are collapsed, and lowered when said pneumatics expand.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of the piano-keys, a rock shaft arranged transversely thereunder and having a forwardly-extending carrying arm and a rearwardly-extending actuating arm, a key-locking rail arranged under the keys and mounted on said carrying arm, and operating means connected with said actuating arm.

2. The combination of the piano-keys, a rock shaft arranged transversely thereunder and having a forwardly-extending carrying arm and a rearwardly extending actuating arm, a key-locking rail arranged under the keys and mounted on said carrying arm, and a pneumatic operatively connected with said actuating arm.

3. The combination of the piano-keys, an exhaust chamber, a controlling pneumatic in constant communication with said chamber, a rock-shaft arranged transversely under the keys and having a carrying arm and an actuating arm, a connection between the movable member of said pneumatic and said actuating arm, and a key locking rail arranged under the keys and mounted on said carrying arm.

4. The combination of the piano keys, a wind chest arranged above the keys and having an exhaust-channel, a controlling pneumatic arranged above the keys and in constant communication with said channel, a rock shaft underneath the keys having a carrying-arm and an actuating arm, a connection between said actuating arm and the movable member of the pneumatic, and a locking rail cooperating with the keys and mounted on said carrying arm.

5. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of the key table, the piano-keys, the fulcrum or balance rail, and means arranged to engage the keys for lifting them olf the balance rail.

6. The combination ofthe key table, the piano keys, the fulcrum or balance-rail, a vertically-movable rail arranged to engage the underside of the keys and having the requisite stroke to raise them 0E the balance rail, and means for actuating said rail.

Witness my hand this 26th day of December, 1908.

WILLIAM F. BAYER. Witnesses:

C. F. GEYER, E. M. GRAHAM. 

